Backlash 2020 was one of WWE’s most unusual shows. It took place at the Performance Center with no real fans in the crowd. The empty arena and odd booking made the event hard to watch and even stranger to rewatch.
Empty arena and the lockdown era
Backlash 2020 happened during the global pandemic. WWE held the show at its Performance Center with zero paid fans. Trainees from the Performance Center filled some spots to give a little atmosphere, but the feel was still very strange. This was the company’s second premium live event after WrestleMania 36 and came before WWE moved to the ThunderDome setup.
Strange matches and booking choices
The card had several unusual or poorly received moments. Sheamus and Jeff Hardy worked a nearly 20-minute program built around urine samples, a framed DUI, and bar fights. Asuka vs. Nia Jax for the RAW Women’s Title ended in a double count-out, leaving fans frustrated. Braun Strowman defended the Universal Championship in a handicap match against The Miz and John Morrison. The WWE Title match between Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley featured interference and outside antics from Lana and MVP.
The dumpster, ninjas, and a tentacle monster
The penultimate segment was one of the oddest. A RAW Tag Team Title match was scheduled between The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) and The Viking Raiders (Ivar & Erik). Instead, the teams brawled in the parking lot before the match. Ivar was thrown into Braun Strowman’s car and Montez Ford was hit with a bowling ball.
Then a group of ninja bikers, led by Akira Tozawa and including a seven-foot sword-wielding ninja played by Omos, suddenly appeared. The four wrestlers ran and ended up fighting in a dumpster. Referee Jessika Carr appeared and called Ivar “cute.” A strange, tentacled monster then flapped around inside the dumpster. The sight scared everyone off and the tag match never took place on the show.
Edge vs. Randy Orton — overhyped and cinematic
WWE billed Edge vs. Randy Orton as the “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” before it happened. The company used crowd noise, special camera angles, and even reshoots to make the match feel bigger in the empty arena. WWE also added the voice of the late Howard Finkel during introductions and used old-school referee styling.
Orton and Edge delivered a very good match, but it did not live up to the grand billing. During reshot sequences, Edge suffered an injury to his triceps, which made the whole presentation feel even more awkward.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Braun Strowman | Retained Universal Championship (against The Miz & John Morrison) |
| Asuka | Match vs Nia Jax ended in a double count-out |
| Nia Jax | Match vs Asuka ended in a double count-out |
| Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) | Tag title match did not take place after backstage brawl |
| Viking Raiders (Ivar & Erik) | Tag title match did not take place after backstage brawl |
| Edge | Delivered a strong match; injured during reshoot sequences |
| Randy Orton | Delivered a strong match vs Edge |
Backlash 2020 will be remembered for its empty arena, strange segments, and bold but flawed presentation choices. For many fans, it was one of the weirdest WWE pay-per-views in history.
